Part 1

On the fifteenth of May in the town known as Who, a little Who girl was feeling quite blue. She sat on the windowsill; staring so far, Off into the distance with eyes murky as tar. But what’s making this girl so down an upset? I admit I’m not expert, but I’ll take a bet, That she’s blue as the sea and ready to leave, Because she has a father who no one believes. So here she sits in all her glory, While we sit here together and I tell her story……. Who-Ville was a peaceful and clean place that strived for perfection in every way. They had a good population that was always happy, a Mayor who was kind and just (a little strange too) and were about to celebrate 100 years of peace and harmony. They were happy as could be without a care in the world; except one little girl. Alyssa Jean Who had lived a life of hardship and abuse that had only changed about a month ago when she had been adopted into the warm embrace of the Mayor’s family. The green eyed girl had never been happier in her life, but still she would stare into the sky and wish for more. Even now, she was caught up in the things she had and the things she wished she had. Breakfast time was probably Alyssa’s least favorite time of the day (that and bed time) She now lived in a family with 95 other sisters and an older brother named Jo-Jo which meant a really short time to talk with each other (12 seconds to be exact) and lonely days in the house. After all, Alyssa was the only home schooled kid in the family. As they went down the line of children one by one, she listened to what they had to say and show their dad. Test scores, talents, arguments, and even a new tooth seemed to give the Mayor a smile, but what did Alyssa have to share? “Well Alyssa, speak up,” her dad stated like he always did; smiling brightly to encourage his child to speak. No amount of encouragement ever got a word out of her during breakfast though and she simply looked at the floor with her hands clasped nervously in her lap. The 12 seconds seemed to take forever to pass by and Alyssa could sense the expression on her dad’s face. Disappointment because she wouldn’t talk, sadness because she seemed so afraid, and even a bit of confusion like so many times before that lasted until the next girl took her place and she moved down the table without a word. Why was she quiet? Well nobody knew, Except her older brother, Jo-Jo Who. But he wouldn’t talk, no he wouldn’t say, And Alyssa seemed to prefer it that way. Alyssa left breakfast early to wander the halls in the way she usually did every morning; marveling at the pictures that covered the walls. So many generations of greatness that was carried through the family yet she didn’t have a drop of their noble blood in her veins. Her gaze moved from one painting to another, and then another as she continued her way down the long hall, but froze when she heard her dad’s voice calling for Jo-Jo. In the way she did back at her old home, Alyssa darted off to one side and into a slightly open door to hide herself away. She watched as her dad and Jo-Jo spoke (well mostly her dad) and couldn’t help but feel alone. Jo-Jo was so important to everyone while no one even knew her name, but that didn’t matter, right? How Alyssa wished that was true. Easy to say, the little girl felt jealous of her all-important brother even if she never let it show. No one needed to know how she felt. “Alyssa? What are you doing?” Without looking back, Alyssa fled from her father’s voice and out the nearby window. As skiddish as a mouse and as lonely as could be.

Part 2
Skipping class and running off,
Was something Alyssa did a lot.
Today she wander town in sorrow,
Just like every day and possibly tomorrow.
Through the bustle, cheer, and smiles,
That stretched out before her for so many miles.
But unlike the people of the pleasant little town,
Alyssa Jean Who was wearing a frown.

Alyssa didn’t really understand what the fuss was about when it came to the Who-Centennial. What was so special about 100 years of happiness when she herself wasn’t happy at all? She kicked a rock in silence as she strolled down the street and through the crowds that were busy preparing for the festivities. A few times, she stopped to look at the sights that surrounded her at every turn, but nothing turned her frown upside down.
The sound of her dad’s voice overhead made Alyssa jump and dart into hiding behind a large tree. She wasn’t exactly supposed to be out there and getting caught was probably a bad option. Her eyes followed her dad as he wandered his way through town toward the Council Office, but a few times she saw him stop as if looking at something. Perhaps it was the odd swirling clouds, or maybe the feeling that everything was tilted sideways? Alyssa continued to watch until he was well out of sight and then cautiously made her way toward her destination.
Her dad’s office.
With Ms. Yelp out with her dad and everyone busy getting ready for the Who Centennial, Alyssa was free to stand in her usual spot to look out over the town and daydream. She hurried up the steps and slipped silently through the wide double doors; avoiding the council members and people moving about the inside. She’d gotten good at staying hidden (though sometimes she wondered if people just didn’t care she was there) and was soon where she wanted to be.

Alyssa sat in her dad’s chair for a moment; wondering what it felt like to be Mayor. Jo-Jo would one day get the chance to know the feeling, but not her because she was neither part of the family or the oldest.

So maybe Alyssa just felt a little left out
Being the only one who went without
Being the all important Mayor’s flesh and blood,
To the people of Who-Ville she was worth less than mud.
So she’d dream in the silence and wish every day,
That she’d be part of their family; somehow find a way.

Her eyes trailed over the pictures of the town council members and she frowned. The County Commissioner seemed to glare at her in an hateful fashion that gave her a chill, but Alyssa just glared back and stuck her tongue out at the painting. The Count Commissioner was the one who called her a “burden to society” and a “worthless brat” so it was no secret why she held a grudge against him. “You think you’re so cool don’t you? With your big important job and all your friends….Well I think you should be knocked down a few notches…” she hissed at the picture.
Alyssa thought about putting a pen through the painting’s face, but was distracted when she heard someone coming toward the door. For a moment she stumbled to get into a hiding place; knocking a few things onto the floor in her panic before finally getting into the cabinet on the other side of the room and shutting the door.
Just in time.
The Mayor entered muttering to himself about something and sat down in the chair Alyssa had been in a few minutes ago. He sounded upset but right now, Alyssa was more concerned about staying hidden.

Part 3
In the silence of the closet,
As the minutes ticked by.
Alyssa remained
With the smallest of sighs.

Alyssa stayed perfectly still as she listened to the muffled grumbles of her father through the cabinet door. How she hoped her was to distracted to look around and see the mess she had made of his room and how she hoped he would leave so she could escape. However, the Mayor continued to ramble and rant about his office. Apparently the town council had really riled him up this time because Alyssa was almost positive she heard him curse once or twice.
As the angry voice of her father drifted by (sounding extremely close) Alyssa sunk back further among the boxes and jackets. One of these days she was going to either get caught or find a way out of his office without worry, but for now she was going to just have to make a break for it. When his voice sounded a bit more out of rang, she nudged open the cabinet and poked her head out; looking at her father who stood on the balcony.
He seemed rather distracted so Alyssa figured now was the best time to go.
As she crept out into the open, her eyes remained locked on her father’s form. What on earth was he doing? She dropped to the ground when he started turning in her direction, but even then he didn’t seem to notice her. Something really had his attention. Being a curious little Who, Alyssa couldn’t help but linger a few minutes to see what had gotten her dad so….Oblivious.
The voice she heard wasn’t coming from anyone she could see and if she didn’t know any better she would have said someone was in the drain pipe. She stood up slowly and looked more confused than ever as she listened to them talk. Something about a speck on a flower? Her concentration was broken when the world suddenly grew dark and then light again. Alyssa stumbled backward in shock and narrowly avoided running into the Mayor’s desk as she stabilized herself and watched Who-Ville change from day to night over and over again.
What the heck was going on? To frazzled to think straight, she turned and darted out the door; being rather quiet despite her hurry. Alyssa didn’t even seem to care that Ms. Yelp saw her rush out and disappear through the tube without a word. She just wanted to get out. Maybe it was the fear of getting caught finally getting to her head? Or had that all really happened?

As Alyssa once again wandered the bustling town she had only recently moved to, she couldn’t keep her mind from wandering. It was probably one of the most confusing things she’d ever experienced besides being an abused child since 5. She sat down on a bench and leaned back to give herself some time to ponder it over. Normally she just would have called herself crazy or over stressed and left it alone but her dad had been talking to the voice. Obviously he heard it too and most likely saw the whole day to night thing.
So she couldn’t have been crazy.
Alone and confused Alyssa sat,
So very very unaware that,
Just above, in the jungle of Nool,
Horton the Elephant was keeping things cool.
Where would she go and what would she do?
Who would believe this one little Who?
Her father, her mom, her sisters or friends?
No there was only one person who was there to all ends.

Part 4

With 95 sisters to love and to hold, Finding some peace could really get old. But Alyssa had one sibling on which to depend, Someone who all her trouble would mend. And who was this Who to answer her call? Her older brother Jo-Jo, the smallest Who of all. Now Alyssa herself wasn’t much taller than he, Maybe an inch or two taller at the knee. But no matter the difference in height or in size, Jo-Jo was a hero in little Alyssa’s eyes. Alyssa arrived home with her mind still buzzing with questions. She couldn’t help but feel like she was slowly losing her mind after the scene back at Town Hall and had to tell someone. As she climbed inside through the hall window (trying to avoid being seen by Sally) she was surprised to see Jo-Jo staring at her from a few steps away; causing her to fall face first into the house out of surprise. Before Jo-Jo could question her in any way, Alyssa was right back onto her feet and dusting herself off. “Jo-Jo! You’ll never believe what happened while I was at dad’s office!” Her brother raised an eyebrow in question, but Alyssa ignored it as she babbled on about the amazing sight. “It was so cool, but it sure scared the heck outta me!” The more she described it, the more crazy it sounded, but Jo-Jo would believe her, right? When she finally finished (very much out a breath) Alyssa locked her almost desperate gaze on him and waited for any form of response. The silence that followed made her heart sink in despair. He didn’t believe her. Just by looking at his expression she could tell he thought she had completely lost her mind. Crestfallen and hurt to a deep extent, Alyssa sighed and sat upon the floor to stare at the ground in sadness. “You think I’m crazy…” she muttered bitterly. Jo-Jo shook his head and ruffled her hair in the playful yet affectionate manner they always used when they were together. “I believe you Alyssa, but you may not want to tell anyone else. Not yet at least.” Alyssa looked at her brother and tilted her head to the side in thought. Did he mean she should keep it a secret? Sensing the question in her expression, Jo-Jo continued. “People might not understand if you just start telling people this. It’s not exactly very believable. I know you’re not lying, but others don’t know you like I do.” It was completely understandable and Alyssa knew he was looking out for her when he placed his hand on her shoulder. They flashed each other the identical smile they both shared and Jo-Jo helped her back onto her feet. But despite Jo-Jo’s little speech, Alyssa didn’t want to stay quiet about it. There was bound to be someone else who would believe her and she was going to find them sooner or later. Alyssa gave her brother a quick and grateful kiss on the cheek before running past him in an unusually blissful manner. “Thanks Jo-Jo!!” Her voice echoed down the hall back to her obviously accomplished brother as she turned the corner and began to run up the stairs towards her room on the first floor. Suddenly, the ground lurched forward under her feet and sent Alyssa tumbling down the stairs until she hit the wall at the bottom in a rather uncomfortable and awkward upside down position; trying to slowly blink her eyes back into focus as stars swirled around her. As the world began to grow dark and her body numb, all Alyssa could think of was how much she needed to tell someone. Something was terribly wrong and she had to speak up. Just once she had to stand up for herself.